Lens-Artists Challenge #288 – Window Shopping

First I want to thank Donna for her inspiring post on the topic of sound. I really had to give it some thought. It was wonderful to see how everyone interpreted it.

I often do window shopping and thought it could be a cool photography challenge. I take photos of creative window displays, I have not limited my shots to fashion. Anything goes, like decorations and even food. Please join and share your take on this theme.

Here are a few ideas of what you could capture: the contrast between the inside and outside of a store, the reflections on the glass, and the expressions of the shoppers.

Snap a photo of a window display that grabs your attention, and try to get some street or surroundings in the shot. You may want to focus on the play of light and shadows, or the vibrant colors that draw the eye.

Helsinki – Balmuir store

Take a pic of someone or a group checking out a window display, and try to capture their feelings, reactions, or interactions. You can go for a candid or posed vibe, depending on the situation. It’s a great opportunity to capture genuine emotions or create an engaging composition.

Click on the photos and see them in a larger size, for a closer and more immersive view.

Grab a shot of a window display that tells a story, conveys a message, or has a theme. Feel free to get creative or go for a more documentary style, depending on the mood and meaning of the display. Pay attention to details and look for interesting patterns or objects that stand out.

These window displays I’ve observed are truly captivating to me at least as I took photos of them. The juxtaposition of the stack of papers in Amalfi, the whimsical showcasing of little girls’ clothing in Nicé, and the fashion displays in Monaco and Melbourne were stylish. The displays of decorations from Helsinki and Capri, as well as the jewelry shop in Thailand, added further richness to my exploration of different window shopping experiences. It’s wonderful how each of these displays tells a unique story about the location where they were captured. These windows offer a vivid glimpse into the essence of different places around the world.

Click on the photos and see them in a larger size, for a closer and more immersive view.

Or just go and look for window frames. Sometimes, the beauty lies in simplicity. You might find interesting patterns, architectural details, or unexpected reflections to capture within the frame of a window.

This photography challenge offers a fantastic opportunity to explore composition, storytelling, and observation. Whether you’re drawn to the visual appeal of a captivating storefront, the human dynamics of window shopping, or the abstract beauty of window frames, there’s plenty of potential for creativity and unique perspectives.

To participate in this challenge, you should link to or leave a comment on the week’s host’s original challenge post and please use the #Lens-Artists tag in your own post, so the post is easily found in the Reader.

Next week Johns (Journeys with Johnbo) will host with the Lens-Artists Challenge. Be sure to visit his inspirational site for more!

161 thoughts on “Lens-Artists Challenge #288 – Window Shopping

  1. So much to appreciate and enjoy in this challenge Ritva! So many inspiring photos to set us on our way. I’ll work on mine later today. The feature photo is a great LOOK!

  2. Innovative theme, GREAT photos. Excellent. I too like to photo good window displays, usually food that I’m drooling over. I shall scour the archives. I know I have a few.

  3. Wonderful display of windows with interesting arrangements! Love this idea and your strong photography to inspire us. I will use some of my new windows from the trip to Nice…

  4. Ritva, your photo collection truly inspires us to get out go window shopping. You turn that into a nice and enjoyable event. I liked how you presented your photos. You have given me plenty to work with for this challenge. Great post and photos!

  5. Love the cherub in the Italian window, Ritva. Not especially related to the window- I just like the gentle expression. Reflections add so much interest.

  6. Your photo of the paper napkins in the window has always been a favorite of mine, Ritva. Now I need to get out more and do some window shopping!

  7. Congratulations on joining the group of fine photographers. In my opinion, you are very worthy … and hopefully this group will increase your blog traffic so others get to see your work. Good theme choice … and I enjoy cats in the window. 🙂

  8. Oh, my! I’m going to go digging into my archives for this one. Love all your examples, and thank you for the option of just presenting windows!

  9. Such an interesting and creative challenge, Ritva! It kind of reminded me of the adventures and photos that Vivian Maier took. My favorite one is of the little dress and ballet shoes display taken in France. So delicate and enchanting! I had to dig into my archives to find photos for window shopping. I love to do it, but rarely take photos. Perhaps you’ve inspired me to start doing that one of these days!

  10. Wonderful windows all of them. I remember that bookshop in downtown Helsinki. Years ago when I stayed nearby I would wander into it now and then. I never learnt enough Finnish to make use of it, but either in that store or in a nearby one there was a wonderful selection of music.

    Let me explore the outer limits of my Finnish. Tein ikkunakauppoia ilman ikkunoita: https://anotherglobaleater.wordpress.com/2024/02/26/one-two-three-oclock-four-oclock-shop/

  11. Hi Ritva. We are now in Boston and I can finally tell you how much I enjoyed window shopping with you. 😊😊 Your collection is wonderful–from many different places and times of year. The little boy dreaming about Christmas tells a wonderful story and the beauty of the salesperson arranging the jewelry items in the window was striking. I focused on “traditional” and “unusal” shopping experiences. I hope you enjoy it.

    https://pilotfishblog.com/2024/02/28/lapc-288-window-shopping/

  12. Welcome, Ritva! If your first challenge is a harbinger of great challenges to come, I am looking forward to more. Your theme presented an opportunity to try something new to me in street photography.

    Thanks to your examples, I was able to finish the assignment.

    1. Thanks for your thoughtful comment, for one my photos tend to be somewhat similar to the fact that I took them – and I have my own style, as we all have, our own Handprint in photography. And we all see things in our own way. That’s the fun of it. That’s why my blog is The world as I see it 🙂

  13. Lovely photos, Ritva! I didn’t realize there could be so much variety to the shop displays 🙂 This might be tough to find in my gallery hehehe

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